McDonald’s will not serve pumpkin spice-flavored coffee this fall, marking the first time in a decade that the chain has dropped the seasonal staple from its autumn drink lineup. The company confirmed it is releasing only one fall coffee flavor this year: Caramel Apple Pie.
«Caramel Apple Pie is the only fall coffee flavor McDonald’s is releasing this year,» a McDonald’s USA spokesperson said. «While Pumpkin Spice will not be part of this year’s lineup, we’re always exploring new ways to give fans seasonal flavors to enjoy.» The decision signals a broader shift in America’s fall flavor landscape, where pumpkin spice has reigned since Starbucks introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte in 2003.
McDonald’s has never been as closely tied to pumpkin spice as Starbucks or Dunkin’, but its decision to drop the flavor entirely reflects changing consumer habits. The youngest Millennials, the generation most associated with the drink, turned 30 this year. Survey data from Empower in 2025 shows Gen Z customers are slightly more likely than Millennials to buy pumpkin spice coffee, but they are not loyal to a single flavor. Younger drinkers have fueled rising demand for protein-infused beverages and matcha, which caused worldwide shortages of the tea powder last year.
Climate change is also reshaping the seasonal drink market. The continental United States recorded its hottest month on record in July, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Several chains have responded by launching fall drinks earlier in August and offering iced or frozen versions of pumpkin-flavored items to suit prolonged summers.
Search data suggests pumpkin spice may have passed its peak. Google Trends figures show searches for «pumpkin spice latte» surging as autumn approaches, but the term dominated searches in only three states in late August, down from 32 states at the same point in 2025 and 48 states in 2024. More than 260% more people searched for «matcha latte» than «pumpkin spice latte,» according to Google Trends data. DoorDash data also shows caramel, apple, and cinnamon drinks trending higher than pumpkin spice on its platform.
Pumpkin spice is not disappearing entirely. Starbucks, which created the original Pumpkin Spice Latte, expanded its fall menu this year with the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Pumpkin Spice Chai, and Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha. A report from food and beverage analytics company Datassential found that 37% more coffee establishments sold pumpkin spice coffee this year compared with a year ago. However, growth in establishments selling caramel apple and apple pie drinks dwarfed pumpkin spice’s advance.
«Pumpkin spice lattes have long since graduated from trend status… but our data shows signs that it may be reaching its peak,» Cristen Milliner, a consumer trends expert at DoorDash, told Entrepreneur.
Other chains are expanding non-pumpkin fall offerings. Caribou Coffee grew its Honeycrisp apple drink selection, introduced in 2021. Scooter’s Coffee launched its first maple-flavored drink in 2021 and has added several new versions since. Starbucks has introduced pecan-flavored drinks, banana bread-flavored beverages, and a chai and cider iced drink called «Chaider.» Dunkin’ added a lineup of tiramisu drinks this year, some incorporating protein and matcha flavors popular with younger customers.